The Temminck's Courser is a small Lapwing-like bird although it is much closer related to the Pratincoles than the Lapwings.

Adults have brown upperparts and breast merging into rufous on belly and terminating in a dark brown patch between legs. Facial features include a black stripe through the eyes meeting on the nape in a V shape, a white supercillium meeting in a similar V shape on the nape, and an entirely rufous crown which seperates it from the Burchell's Courser having a blue-grey hindcrown. Juveniles have a streaked crown and mottled back.

The Temminck's Courser is most likely only confused with Burchell's Courser from which it can be seperated by the absence of a blue-grey hind crown, terminating breast band that runs between the legs as opposed to higher up on the belly and an absence of white secondaries which is very conspicuous in flight.

The Temminck's Courser is largely a nomadic resident but there is a population that breeds in the Sahel region of Africa and migrates to southern Africa in the austral summer. At best, the movements of this species is still poorly understood.

They prefer short or burned grasslands, overgrazed areas, fallow lands and generally sparsely vegetated areas with good visibility.

The Temminck's Courser makes no nest and lays its eggs on bare ground in areas with good visibility. They are monogamous breeders.

"Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It's what separates us from the animals ... except the weasel." -Homer Simpson

I was on our Property in Vaalwater(Waterberg) today.....and Found a Temmnick's Courser, with a nest containing two eggs.....Figured I'd post this, as anyone still wanting to see one, or see one again...Heres an almost sure bet, the nest is 10 metres from a road, and definately provides a good view of the birds...(Theres no grass to obscure the view)

We were very lucky to see them! It was because of the male; He crossed the road ca. 10 mtrs in front of us . When we stopped at a distance he stayed on the right side of the road for a while. After that he went back to the left side and by doing this he gave away the location of the female and the chick.

Going to South Africa is coming home !!Finally home now!!!Proud new member of the LIT-club since the early morning of 11-11-2007

I have found the best spot in Kruger to find temnick's coursers - There are about 10-15 of them, and these ones are ussualy active during the day for some reason, at the Mooiplaas waterhole, just east of Mopani, they are always there and I can garuntee a sighting of them in the late afternoon at this waterhole.